Fathers day

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

What Can I Actually DO at this Phase

I have had the pleasure of attending two philanthropic events this week, and each has brought into focus the desire for change and taking action. The difficulty is how one goes about doing that in different phases of life.

We as a couple can not offer the necessary financial contribution, nor can we dedicate enough time to make the impact we would like at this time of raising children from 3 to 14 years old. I am very aware that I have two years until my youngest starts primary school, this will impact my ability and desire to work. I am in the process of discerning school, graduate program acceptance and transcript request forms are stacked under sports schedules and field trip information sheets. And I am thinking about meaningful work. I am not in a unique place, many, many mothers find themselves at crossroads when their youngest move towards the big yellow bus.

Lucy's portrait of her family, she told her teacher she wanted to use
extra people and more skin colors to be"more beautiful"

On monday Sheff and I attended a gathering to learn more about Ploughshares, an organization committed to promoting peace by eliminating nuclear weapons http://www.ploughshares.org. We both left with a much better rudimentary understanding of the strife in the Middle East. Those who spoke to the issues motivated us to come home and pull out a map with the kids. We would like to start family dialogue about promoting non partisan peace, about war and global conflict. How can these issues be relevant around our immediate dinner table? We actually talked about the Middle East in terms of football, but teams and sports anger are not a bad way to talk and relate to global issues with pre teen boys!

Today I attended the Women's Foundation of Minnesota http://www.wfmn.org, and learned very scary data about the abuse of populations of girls right here in our backyard. It was a sobering lunch supporting essential work. Learning how to keep our young people safe and make changes in how at risk youth can be targeted to be exploited. Again, what can I DO right now in the busy pace of life? I can read, I can attend events to further my own knowledge and I can engage in community dialogue.

Last week I sat down with a great group of women to write thank you cards to Young Life leaders, college kids volunteering their time to spend time with our local youth. I know many who serve on school boards, are sports commissioners or take a day a month to help at a shelter or church sponsored relief project. Sheff and I look forward to the day we can give back to local athletics and education, we give what we can yearly to our Library and around the clock coaching is a huge commitment for Sheff and a joy. Giving back takes time and constancy but is vital. Different phases of life will give way to different opportunity, and that can be exciting rather than overwhelming.

As I think about the next chapter in my life my children and husband will come first, that is a priority for me personally. Faith will impact how and what I do, social justice is a passion for me. As time becomes available even in small doses I hope I can make the most of it. Be it school, more volunteer work or a part time career.

I do know that I want to continue to learn about organizations working to make our community, both local and global, a safer and more rewarding place to be for the next generation who will someday be sitting at the cross roads of what to DO next.